John Kerry
John KerryAFP photo

Speaking at Istanbul, Turkey, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made a jarring comparison between the victims of the Boston Marathon terror bombs and terror activists from the IHH group who were killed when they attacked IDF forces aboard the Mavi Marmara in 2010.

Kerry told his hosts in Turkey that he understands the pain of the families whose loved ones were killed aboard the Marmara – and added that he can understand their pain well, having just dealt with the families whose loved ones were slain in Boston.

Kerry said in his speech that he hopes the Israeli apology will lead to a thawing of Israel-Turkey relations.

Representatives of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu arrived in Turkey Sunday, for talks on the compensation Israel will pay Turkey for the deaths of the IHH terror activists. The apology was brokered by U.S. President Barack Obama, as part of a rapprochement between Israel and Turkey that may include security cooperation regarding the Iranian nuclear weapons threat.